What is Ag Discovery?

The USDA Ag Discovery Program (PDF) was designed to help teenagers explore careers in plant and animal science, wildlife
management, agricultural business and other fields related to agriculture and natural
resources. The program is made possible by a collaborative agreement between the USDA
and cooperating universities.

Ag Discovery at California State University, Fresno will focus on career opportunities in animal and veterinary services, plant health
and production, food safety and processing and the overarching business skills needed
to move agriculture from farm to fork.

Students will be introduced to the university’s diversified farm and food processing
facilities before being immersed in real world experiences. They will participate
in hands-on labs, workshops, team-building and leadership activities, and field trips
throughout the Central San Joaquin Valley of California.

Staff and faculty from Fresno State's Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and
Technology will lend their expertise from seven departmentsand three research centers that are committed to hands-on practical learning.

The 1,000-acre University Agricultural Laboratory, better known as the campus farm, reflects the diversity of the one of the nation's
productive agricultural regions, California's Central Valley. Its 20 student-run enterprises
located right on campus include beef and dairy cattle, equine, poultry, sheep and
swine, citrus and nut orchards, vegetable and field crops, wine, raisin and table
grape vineyards, and horticulture nursery units. Students also process fresh products
at Fresno State's nationally-respected dairy, food and meat processing laboratories,
and participate in all aspects of the winemaking profession at the Fresno State Winery,
the first bonded winery in the country to be located on a university campus. Student-made
products are then sold on-campus at the Gibson Farm Market.

Fresno County raises over 400 commodities on 1.88 million acres of farmland and was the nation's
top county in agricultural production for 13 straight years through 2013. The area
is also a national leader in food processing and natural resource management.

Fresno State was established in 1911 and is part of the 23-campus California State
University system. The 1,400-acre campus represents the diversity of Fresno County with its 1 million inhabitants speaking +100 languages and integrating agricultural
practices from around the world.

The scenic campus is located in the heart of California and surrounded to the north
and east by the majestic Sierra Nevada Mountains and Yosemite, Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks.